ebb.and.pflow: DIY for entrepreneurs in design

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 09:38:58 -0500

The Obama Influence in Worldwide Art

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 09:38:00 -0500

By, Christan Summers

www.ebbandpflowlookbook.tumblr.com

Christan@ebbandpflow.com

So I have not been back to America since Obama’s election. I was in bangkok when he won and traveled up to Laos shortly after he became our President. Now I am in Paris and after visiting the Art Paris and speaking with people from Europe and Asia. I really wanted to write a quick note about how amazed I am about the influence Obama has created worldwide.

Really. It is incredible. If you tell a non-American you are from America, the first question and/or exclamation is a reference to Obama. I have heard, “Yes we can” more than I have heard “bonjour.”

I was speaking with a Parisian woman the other night and she told me how Obama’s election is a sign of hope for people worldwide. Which is an obvious auumption, but when you hear it from someone who is really serious, someone who had no hope in America as a reasonable country, and who now praises America because of our president elect, that is worth mentioning.

But the reason for this post is the reference back to art and how often Obama is being used in art on a worldwide scale. Artists are using Obama in everything. T-shirts, posters, graffiti, wall murals, designer art, its everywhere here in Paris. At the Art Palais, one of the most popular pieces was a collage of photos from American history which pattern drew Obama’s face. That was ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR.

I wonder so many things about this movement. Is it too much? Is it just right? Is it silly to give Obama’s color so much attention? And is that what its really about? Why didn;t any artists appreciate Bush? If we give so much attention to Obama’s color are we just feeding the fire or finally letting it lose?

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 09:15:24 -0500

For the Art Enthusiasts...Art Paris 2009

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 09:14:00 -0500

By, Christan Summers

www.ebbandpflowlookbook.tumblr.com

Christan@ebbandpflow.com

So the Bangkok adventure has ended for me and now I am in Paris to begin marketing and promoting the collection. Jen, my design partner is still in Bangkok holding it down for the quality control and perfection of the pieces. Jen, your my hero.

So, this is a small check in from Paris to start the ball rolling again.

FOR THE ART ENTHUSIASTS

Last week I visited Art Paris, held at the Grand Palais and it was extraordinary. For those who are unaware of what the show is…it is a trade show of sorts for galleries from around the world to show case their best work and gain more exposure for their fetaured artists.

To say the least, it was awe-inspiring. Contemporary and modern art from naked pictures of Pamela Anderson…not sure how that one fits ;) to original sketches of the evil witch from Sleeping Beauty. Oh, how I wanted that sketch.

Pictures are following…

The Grand Palais

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:54:27 -0600

What is it really like to be an entrepreneur?

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:53:00 -0600

By, Christan Summers

www.ebbandpflowlookbook.tumblr.com

Christan@ebbandpflow.com

So, I am not an expert. I am an entrepreneur. I am a designer and a woman entrepreneur.

It is not easy to be an entrepreneur, and to be a successful entrepreneur is more challenging. I fight everyday against anxiety, fear, sleepless nights, balance of life and work, investment and paying the bills. Those are the negatives.

The positives, they are beautiful and they make it all worth it. But what is it really like? Everyone has a different experience, everyone will work differently and succeed differently. For me, being an entrepreneur is a constant test of my strength and ability. You have to learn how to pace yourself, learn patience, no expectations. Expect nothing, strive toward your own goal and work as hard as you want.

As an entrepreneur, no one holds your hand. No one tells you what time you have to be at work, when you take your lunch break and when you go home. IT IS ALL UP TO YOU. That is a blessing and a curse. Learning how to push yourself enough, but also learning when to say I’ve done enough for today and I will start fresh tomorrow.

I’m just going to write a small list of daily things that help me stay focused:

1. Set a weekly goal. You can have daily goals and weekly goals. Set your week goal first, then divide the tasks that will accomplish the week’s goal into your 5-7 day week, (depending on if you work weekends).

2. For your daily goals, set a realistic number of tasks to do. When you write a list of all the tasks that need to be accomplished, you get overwhelmed and often waste time because you do not know which one to begin with. Start with three, if you knock them out, awesome, move on to the fourth, then maybe the fifth and so forth. At the end of the day, congratulate yourself for being productive.

3. Work smart. There is working hard and there is working smart. Tune in, ask yourself if what your doing is priority? Is it moving you closer to your personal goal for the week? Is it something that is directly relative to your day tasks and daily goal? If not, put it aside, move on.

4. Have fun. Take a break. Eat. Exercise. Laugh. Kiss someone you love. Don’t forget to live. There is no point in doing something everyday if you do not love what you do it for.

To Consign or Not To Consign?

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 23:35:00 -0600

by Jennifer Yuan

www.ebbandpflowlookbook.tumblr.com

jennifer@ebbandpflow.com

If you are just starting out, and you are trying to increase the visibility of your product, consignment is one option. BUT, there are many things to consider when placing your babies in someone else’s hands.

1) Do you have stock on hand to sell in case someone wants to purchase directly from you?

2) What are the terms of consignment with the shops in question? Are they splitting 50/50, 60/40? How long does it take for them to pay you? Will they pay you for any items lost or stollen? How long will they test out your products on their shelves or in their display cases if nothing sells.

Fortunately all of these are negotiable. If you do not feel comfortable with any of the terms, then you can say “no” prior to agreement.

3) Is their staff “into” your product. It is really helpful when the people who will be selling your product are just as enthusiastic about your product as you are.

If all seems well and you decide to place your items on consignment with a brick and mortar then I highly suggest that you visit the establishment every now and then to see if your items are displayed properly or just shoved into some drawer. Even if the store is high-end or has a fabulous reputation, no one cares for your items more than you do. Store owners tend to push items that have already been paid for or are brand named/fast sellers.

Good Luck!

Jewelry Photography. Give your jewelry life.

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 23:34:00 -0600

By, Christan Summers

www.ebbandpflowlookbook.tumblr.com

ebbandpflow@gmail.com

What is the trick, what is it that magazine editors and stylists know that makes their jewelry pop so well in photographs…

Give your jewelry life. Give it character. Literally, bring the jewelry alive. You know when you hear a song, maybe a song with a saxophone, and the climax…you can’t understand why you feel it, what you feel, but you feel. There is passion in that song, there is life and someone has created it. Give that to your jewelry.

Each piece has a character, a personalty. Find that fitting character to your piece and surround it in a setting which compliments that character.

Okay. I know. What am I talking about? Look at the next two photo posts.

If you design it, they will come....not necessarily

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 23:31:00 -0600

by Jennifer Yuan

www.ebbandpflowlookbook.tumblr.com

jennifer@ebbandpflow.com

Just because you have a beautiful piece of art that everyone ooohs and ahs at, it doesn’t mean that money will be thrown at you. On the same note, just because you build a pretty online store with all the bells and whistles, doesn’t mean that you will wake up in the morning with an inbox full of orders. Sorry :( If an empty inbox had a sound, it would be like this…”chirp chirp, chirp chirp”

I am very pro e-commerce, so I will be focusing on this avenue.

If you are going to place your designs online, there are many many things to consider. The list is rather large but here goes….

1) Independent site, community site or both?

2) Interesting and clear photos that POP! Therefore quality camera with zoom. If your pictures suck and you aren’t selling a brand name item, this is your only chance to “show off” the goods.

3) A good command of the English language. (unless you want to target non-English speaking markets). No one wants to buy from someone who sounds like an idiot.

4) Competitive pricing

5) SEO

6) Videos, Blogging and Social Networking

7) Press Releases to both online and paper media

8) Patience and Determination

I know that this is very general, but believe me. I’m not done yet. I will be elaborating in the blogs to come…..so stay tuned!

By, Christan...

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 23:30:00 -0600

By, Christan Summers

www.ebbandpflowlookbook.tumblr.com

Christan@ebbandpflow.com

Okay. Character! All of a sudden, these earrings have personality. They have a story. Choose yours…but I can see them on a New Yorker, a fashionista in Tokyo or how about a woman in Stockholm. She loves galleries, loft apartments, diner milkshakes and fries at 2 am, a fantastic book and picnic in the park…Shes comfortable, she has an effortless, chic style and is sexy in her own skin. Versatile, chic, sexy. Conservative with a twist.

In this setting, the colors are both fun and complimenting to the silver and rose gold. Needless to say, getting the colors in your jewelry to properly pop is crucial. Silver is never easy to shoot because of its reflection and wonderful ability to blend. So, COLORS! Colors are a wonderful trick to utilize in jewelry photography. Keep the background simple, but make it fun so you enjoy looking at it.

Undiscovered Artists? START small. Doodle Empires Weren't Built In a Day!

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 23:18:00 -0600

by Jennifer Yuan

www.ebbandpflowlookbook.tumblr.com

jennifer@ebbandpflow.com

Here is an example scenario. This can apply to any design, whether it be jewelry, paintings, doodles, finger puppets, you name it.

Okay, so you have perfected the art of doodling and you are quite proud of them. You might even have them stashed away in a drawer on pieces of torn out notebook paper. Your friends might have seen them laying around and complimented you for such extraordinary hidden talents. They have asked why you haven’t tried selling or publishing such work? You yourself have often fantasized about your secret doodles making it big. Can you sell such artwork?

YES, you can! And NO, you don’t have to run out and incorporate just to sell a doodle or two. Start small. Rome wasn’t built in a day.

1) First you have to figure out what you want your final product to be. Do you want your doodles to be sold as wall hangings. Would you like to turn it into a wall sticker? Perhaps you would like to incorporate them into small flip books for gag gifts. How about your doodle on a t-shirt? This can go on forever, you get the point.

(Keep in mind that you can have a doodle empire someday, but you have to start somewhere, so pick one or two categories that you would like to try.)

3) After you select the final product you would like to sell your product as, then check out the competition. Is there any? Is there a lot? Is their work selling? Is it not? Get a feel for the industry.

4) Check out the prices of buying the equipment necessary to make your product versus outsourcing the production. If the equipment is cheap, and you have the cash handy, go for it. If it is expensive, then consider the cost of a small batch run from a local company or a company online.

5) Brick and Mortars are fine and dandy, but why not try selling it online? There are a plethora of venues and most of them do not cost anything if much to use. Here are some examples of sites that you can consider depending upon your product. Some of these are juried.

* Etsy

* Mindt

* Artfire

* Smashing Darling

* Stars and Infinite Darkness

* Trunkt

* 1000 Markets

6) Don’t forget things like signatures, tags, packaging, etc. Special touches impress customers and adds a professional touch.

This post is just a generalized synopsis of how to take a design from concept to product form. Please feel free to email us at ebbandpflow@gmail.com or make a comment if you have specific questions.

By Christan...

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 23:17:00 -0600

By Christan Summers

www.ebbandpflowlookbook.com

Christan@ebbandpflow.com

Okay, so these earrings are beautiful, and the background is not bad. But I have seen this before. The natural, un-obtrusive/un-offensive backgrounds are used all the time. I am not knocking this style, my point is simply this: the earrings in this picture have no personality. The picture above places the earrings in a setting, they are accented by fun colors, in a playful scene. The end result: giving the earrings a life, a character, a personality.

Thoughts? Comments? Please share!

To Design Entrepreneurs Around the World!

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 09:17:00 -0600

by Jennifer Yuan

www.ebbandpflowlookbook.tumblr.com

jennifer@ebbandpflow.com

Hello and how are you?! How did you find us? Was it by accident? If not or even if so, WELCOME!

I am Jennifer Yuan, one half of ebb.and.pflow. I work,design and collaborate with Christan Summers. Together we are ebb.and.pflow…world travelers, street-food diners, jewelry designing enthusiasts!

We decided to put together this blog to share tips and experiences incurred throughout our entrepreneurial life. Please feel free to contribute via commenting. We’d love to hear from you.

Working for oneself is not easy. You often start out as a “one-man-band” in order to keep costs low for survival. Sometimes you might even find yourself wondering “is this all worth it?” It IS worth it if you know nothing else but your passion. If you see someone else doing something similar and you feel anxious or even jealous. We are not here to see anyone go broke by following their passion or to tell someone to sell everything they have for their idea.

We are here to share feasible and realistic methods and tips for self starters in design. We are also here to connect with other design entrepreneurs so that we too may learn from you!

A Big Hello to all Designers and Entrepreneurs!

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 09:13:00 -0600

So, this is a blog. I’m laughing to myself because I’ve never blogged before. But, its amazing, technology is amazing and the opportunity we have because of it.

I’m Christan, I’m one half of ebb.and.pflow, I’m a designer, I’m a jewelry designer, I’m an entrepreneur, and I’m a woman.

So, this is an introduction. Hi. I hope you read, I hope this is helpful and I hope you communicate with us as well. Thats what its all about. We are not here to read ourselves write…we want to read what you write, what concerns you about being an entrepreneur, what you experience being a designer, a woman designer, man designer, independent designer, international designer, jewelry designer, clothing designer, interior designer….the list will go on. Its all up to you.

So thank you for visiting, thank you for reading. Introduce yourself to us! We would love to hear from you. Being an entrepreneur and/or designer is not always easy and it is so wonderful yo meet and communicate with other like minds.

Still traveling, designing and smiling,

Christan Summers

ebbandpflow.tumblr.com

ebbandpflow@gmail.com